Improvement in indicator-locks



dlnitnl gieten anni (tithe.

E. M. MIXYANI) J. E. MIX, OF WESTFIELD, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 98,513, dated January 4, 1870; aatedated July 27, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN- INDICATOR-LOCKS.

The Schedule referred te in. these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all-whom it may concern Be it known that we, E. M. MIX and J. E. MIX, of Westfield, in the county of Chautauqua, and State of New York, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Indicator-Locks; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a face view of a padlock, with the faceplate removed, representing the mechanism in a locked position.

Figure II is a cross-section, in line xx, Fig. I, showing a front edge view of the locking-mechanism.

Figure III is a. face 'View of the lock, with the plate covexing the indicator-wheel removed.

Figure IV is a face vie-w similar to Fig. I, except lthat the mechanism is shown in anv unlocked position.

Figure V is a cross-section of the case, showing' a front elevation of the tumblers in the position required for releasing the lockingcatcli.

Figure VI is a face view of the lock, complete.

Like letters of reference designate like'parts in each of the figures.

Our invention relates to that class of locks in which a numbered wheel or wheels, intermittent-l y moved by suitable mechanism each time the lock is opened, are employed to indicate, by exposing a certain number, the number of times the lock has been thus opened.

In one device already patented the indicator-mechanism is operated by the key in opening the lock. This mode ofoperation is defective, from the fact that the lock can be picked and opened without disturbing thc indicator.

The object of our invention is to remedy this defect, and, at the same time, simplify and lcheapen the required mechanism.

To accomplish this, our invention consists- First, in connecting the actuating-mechanism of an indicator-wheel directly with the locking-bolt or catch, so that the latter cannot be withdrawn or the-hasp released, without changing the position of the indicator-wheel and exposing a dierent number.

Second, in? employing, in connection with a num bered wheel thus operated, a sealed stop, which will arrest the movement ol` the wheel when the maximum number thereon is exposed, and also by means of' the connection with the locking-bolt or catch, prevent the latter being withdrawn or the lock opened, without tirst breaking the seal and disengaging the stop, even although the proper key is employed, andthe tumblers moved to the required position for unlocking.

Third, in thc construction and arrangement, with the pawl which actuates the indicator-wheel, ofa guard detent, to prevent the wheel being moved more than one degree by a single movement of the locking-catch and actuating-pawl.

In the drawings- A is the padlock-case, B, the front plate thereof, C, the locking-catch, oscillating on a pivot, c; d is the spring-arm, which throws open the hasp E; f f are the tumble-rs, and g g springs attached thereto; and 7i the key-post, which, together, form the mechanism of the simple padlock.

The operation of this lock is as follows:

'lhe lock being open, as shown in Fig. IV, the lock ing is effected by closing the hasp, the rebate in the end thereof depressing the spring-arm d, while the end of the hasp, pressing on the arm c of the .lockingcatch, brings the latter in engagement therewith.

This disengages the lookin g-catch from the tumblers, which are thrown, by the springs g, into the position shown in Fig. i, in which they serve as a stop, to prevent the witl'idrawal ofthe catch from its engagement with the hasp.

In unlocking, the key forces back the tumblers to the position indicated in Fig. 1V, which releases the locking-catch and brings the notches 'i therein in coincidence, as shown in Fig. V.

The lockingcatch being thus released, the springarm d throws open the hasp and causes the lockingcatcb. to oscillate backward, the tongue c2 thereof en-V tering the notches i, to which it is now opposite.

J represents our indicator-wheel, and J, a, ratchetwheel or rim attached thereto, which, together, revolve on a stationary axis, it.

The indicator has marked consecutively on it, iigure's 1, 2, 3, Sac., which correspond with the iatchets oi' the wheel J', so that there will be a number for each ratchet, the number of the latter being limited by the outward from the locking-catch through a slot, n, in

the case.

O is the guard-detect, and o, a pressure -spring therefor. v

In Fig. III the parts are shown in their normal position.

Thel backward movement of the locking-catch in releasing the hasp, causes a corresponding movement of the pawl L, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. III, which, in turn, moves forward the indicator one degree, and the ratchet-wheel one tooth.

The pawl L is provided with a curved stem, Z, so arranged that it will approach the back edge of the detent during the actuating movement of the pawl, and, by following the detentas it enters the next suoi ceeding ratchet, (which it does a little before the pawl has reached its limit of movement-,) prevent the wheel changing its positionmore than one degree at each movementofthe pawl, as sometimes it otherwise might.

P is a sealed stop, att-ached to the case of the loci( by a couutcrsunk screw, haring the countersink beyond the screw-head, with its base larger than theI top, so as to receive and retain a seal of soft metal or other material, which prevents the screw being loosened without lirst destroying the seal.

The indicator-wheel is formed with a. lug, q, projecting from its periphery, and so arranged that when the wheel has performed a complete revolution, so as to expose its maximum or zero number, this lug will come in contact with the projection r of the stop, and arrest the further rotation of the wheel, until it is released by breaking the seal and removing the stop.

The projection q being moved past the stop, the latter is replaced'and resealed, which leaves the look free to be operated again. Y

The pawl, connecting with the locking-catch and indicator-wheel, as before described, the eti'ect of thus arresting the movement of the indicator will be to lock the catch and hasp together, so as to prevent the disengagement of the latter, or backward movement of the catch or bolt, even 'although the tumblers are turned by the key or pick.

Q is the cap which covers the indicating-mechanism, in which an aperture is made of suiieieut size to permit the exposure of one of the numbers marked on the wheel J. This hole is protected by a small piece sepia of glass arranged over it, and retained in place by a faceplate, s, riveted to the case.

In Fig. VI this aperture is shown with the figure 6 exposed, the figures indicating the other numbers, in succession, taking its place as the lock is opened.

It is evident that our improvements can be readily adapted to other locks than the one described, the essential requisite hein g the connect-ion ofthe actuating-mechanism ot the indicator directly with the locking-catch or bolt, so that the lock cannot be opened without producing a change in the indicator, and exposing a dili'erent number'.

NVhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Operating the numbered wheel of an indicatorlock, by a direct connection of its actuating-mechanism with the locking-catch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. n

2. In combination with an indicator-wheel, the actuating-mechanism of which is connected directly with the locking-catch, so as to he operated thereby, the sealed stop P, operating substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with theindicator-wheel J J', the pawl L, provided with stem Z2, and guard-detent O,

arranged and operating as and for the purpose de-I scribed.

E. M. MIX. J. E. MIX. \Vi tn esscs:

RICHARD BENNETT, C. H. WELLING. 

